University of Suffolk pledges to continue growing economic and community impact in the county
A new study found the university helped generate £862 million through its operations in the UK between 2021 and 2022
The University of Suffolk’s promising to continue to grow its impact on the economy and communities in Ipswich, Suffolk and further afield.
It's after a new study found the university helped generate £862 million through its operations in the UK between 2021 and 2022 - through a metric known as Gross Value Added (GVA).
It also supported more than 13,500 jobs in the same time period.
The £862m figure includes £484m GVA and 3,760 jobs supported in the East of England.
Of that, £332m GVA and 2,740 supported jobs were for Suffolk as a whole (including Ipswich).
£237m GVA and 1,660 supported jobs were solely in Ipswich.
The university says it marks a significant increase in GVA generated across the UK of £500m since the previous study, which covered 2017-18.
It suggests the increase comes as a result of the growth in student numbers attending the University, and the significant expansion of the institution’s "business engagement, knowledge exchange and research activities" since the previous study.
Now, the university's signed a Civic University commitment, which it says is a pledge to "continue and grow its positive impact".
Developed in collaboration with community organisations and stakeholders, the pledges include:
- Preserving and celebrating the culture and heritage of Suffolk by working with artists, historians and cultural institutions
- Fostering sustainable economic growth and regeneration; enhancing skills and aspirations beyond traditional higher education through areas such as expanding community-based learning opportunities
- Addressing the health challenges of the region by partnering with healthcare providers
- Harnessing digital innovation
"It is important that the University of Suffolk delivers real-world impacts in our communities"
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Helen Langton MBE, said: “As an anchor institution in Ipswich and Suffolk, it is important that the University of Suffolk delivers real-world impacts in our communities, and our signing of the Civic University pledge marks a continued commitment to this goal.
“Providing transformational higher education study opportunities for those who may never have had the chance, helping regenerate Ipswich, supporting and developing our NHS workforce, and partnering with businesses and community organisations are just some of the ways we have, and will continue, to serve Ipswich, Suffolk and beyond.”
"A powerful impact in our communities in Suffolk and beyond"
The study also predicted, helped by plans to continue growing student numbers, increase collaborative partnerships with employers and industry, and enhance research and knowledge exchange activities, the university could soon have an economic impact of £1.4 billion and 21,020 jobs supported across the UK.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Business and Entrepreneurship, Professor Gurpreet Jagpal, added: “Our Economic Impact Study demonstrates just how important our work at the University is in the UK, the region and in our county, delivering exceptional growth in only a few years.
“The growth in the University’s student population shows that this has become a real destination of choice for students who know they will be supported into good careers, and the expansion of our research and knowledge exchange work is delivering a powerful impact in our communities in Suffolk and beyond.
“With further exciting developments and ambitious plans for the future, we are confident this trajectory will continue.”